1961 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-009

Description

John R. Sinnock's portrait of Benjamin Franklin on the half dollar obverse provides extensive fine detail for revealing hub doubling, and DDO-009 demonstrates this with medium spread visible on LIBERTY, the date, and TRUST, accompanied by a light triple spread on IN GOD WE. The triple spread is particularly noteworthy — it indicates three distinct hubbing impressions that failed to align, rather than the more common two-impression doubling seen on most doubled dies. Die stage tracking under UVC-163 and DMR-011 identifies three states: Stage A at Early Die State (unconfirmed), Stage B showing both obverse and reverse at Mid-Die State (MDS), and Stage C at Late Die State (unconfirmed). The confirmed MDS classification for Stage B provides a useful reference point for collectors assessing the relative age of their specimens within this die's working life. The 1961 Franklin Half Dollar was struck in 90% silver composition during the series' penultimate year — the Franklin design would be replaced by the Kennedy Half Dollar in 1964 following the assassination of President Kennedy. Cataloged by VarietyVista, DDO-009 with its uncommon triple spread characteristic stands out among Franklin Half Dollar obverse varieties, where most doubled dies show conventional two-impression doubling on similar design elements.

Die Markers

• UVC-163
• DMR-011
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Timothy Wissert
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References